VOL. xiii,-j PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 79 



18U0. 



eye. Preopercular spiues directed backward, or the lowest sliglitly 

 oblique. Gill-rakers loug and sleuder, the lougest two-liftlis orbit. 

 Highest dorsal spiue 2^ iu head, the spiues moderately stroug, the 

 membraue not deeply iucised. Height of soft rays about equaling that 

 of spiues. Caudal emargiuate. Secoud aual spine longer and stronger 

 than third, and longer than soft rays, 2 to 2^- in head. Ventrals usually 

 not to vent. Pectorals nearly to front of aual. Scales rough-ctenoid 

 on breast, maxillary, mandible, and snout. 



Color: Olivaceous above, silvery below, overlaid below with light 

 red; young with three or four brownish-black bars on sides, becoming 

 fjxintin older specimens and sometimes also in young; in these a dusky 

 blotch on occiput, one including front of dorsal, one under posterior 

 rays of dorsal, one under soft dorsal, and one on back of tail. Dorsals 

 sometimes with black spots, the spinous dorsal often with a submedian 

 band of black, above which the iucised membrane is white. Conspicu- 

 ous olive-brown spots on caudal, usually confiued to base and upper 

 lobe of fin. Very abundant iu deep water otf the coast of southern 

 California; taken at Stations 2803, 2907, 2049, 2959, and 2973, from 44 

 to 155 fathoms. 



38. Sebastichthys diploproa sp. uov. 



Diagnosis: Scales large, ctenoid; cranial ridges rather weak but 

 evident; postocular spines wanting ; peritoneum black; buccal cavity 

 white. Premaxillaries greatly produced on each side of median line. 

 No dark markings. Gill-rakers long and slender. Second anal spine 

 enlarged. 



Specific description: Depth, 2'^ in length; head, 2h. D. XIII, 12 or 

 13 ; A. Ill, 7. Lat. 1. 35 (tubes). 



Maxillary reaching beyond middle of pupil, 2f iu head. Premaxil- 

 lary produced on each side of median line, forming two forwardly pro- 

 jecting deutigerous lobes, iu the deep emargi nation between which fits 

 the tip of mandible. Symphyseal knob small. 



Eye large, 3 to 3^ in head. Preorbital narrow, one-third pupil, with 

 two strong diverging spines. Interorbital space rather wide, 1| in or- 

 bit, slightly coucave, with a pair of low ridges or none. Occipital 

 ridge prominent, sharp, the others low, but with strong spines; nasal, 

 preocular, supraocular, tympanic, and occipital spines present. Pre- 

 opercular spines strong, the second usually the longest, the third, 

 fourth, and fiftli directed downwards and backwards. Opercular spines 

 longer than those on preopercle. Two small spines on shoulder. 



Gill-rakers long and very slender, the longest half orbit. 



Dorsal spines moderate, longer than soft rays, the longest 2.V in 

 head, the twelfth two-fifths its height. Caudal emargiuate. Secoud 

 anal spine longer and stronger than third, shorter than soft rays, 2J to 

 3 in head. Ventrals barely reaching vent; the pectorals slightly 

 beyond, 1§ iu head, with broad base, the lower rays not thickened. 



